splint

1 of 2

noun

ˈsplint 

variants or less commonly splent

ˈsplent 

1

: a small plate or strip of metal used in making armor

2

a

: a thin strip of wood suitable for interweaving (as into baskets)

b

: splinter

c

: material or a device used to protect and immobilize a body part (such as a broken arm)

3

: a bony enlargement on the upper part of the cannon bone of a horse usually on the inside of the leg

splint

2 of 2

verb

splinted; splinting; splints

transitive verb

1

: to support and immobilize (something, such as a broken bone) with a splint

2

: to brace with or as if with splints

Synonyms

Noun

• chip
• sliver
• splinter
• fragment
• shard
• flake

Examples of splint in a Sentence

Noun

His leg was in a splint.

a splint off the board

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Quickly, other motorists stopped to help, and the group used a windshield wiper, a metal rod from a car jack, and seatbelts as splints and tourniquets to keep Whitt from bleeding to death. —Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Sports first-aid kit: Athletes are more likely to be injured when playing contact sports or heavily exerting themselves, which is why sports first-aid kits usually include splints, wraps, athletic tape, cold compresses and pain relievers. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025

Verb

Treatment for bruxism can include wearing a mouthguard or splint, improving sleep hygiene, and implementing behavioral modifications. —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 26 July 2025

The vet said there was no way to splint the malady. —Charles Hammer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle Low German splinte, splente; probably akin to Middle Dutch splitten to split

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing splint

• splint bone

Rhymes for splint

• clint
• dint
• glint
• hint
• lint
• mint
• print
• quint
• quinte
• sprint
• squint
• stint

Kids Definition

splint

1 of 2 noun

ˈsplint 

1

: a thin flexible strip of wood woven together with others in making a chair seat or basket

2

: splinter entry 1

3

: material or a device used to protect a body part (as a broken arm) and keep it in place

splint

2 of 2 verb

: to support and hold in place with or as if with a splint or splints

Medical Definition

splint

1 of 2 noun

ˈsplint 

1

: material or a device used to protect and immobilize a body part

a plaster splint for a fractured leg

a dental splint

2

: a bony enlargement on the upper part of the cannon bone of a horse usually on the inside of the leg

splint

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to support and immobilize (as a broken bone) with a splint

2

: to protect against pain by reducing the motion of

the patient splinted his chest by a fixed position and shallow breathing